Shoulder holster communication device

ABSTRACT

This invention is a special shoulder holster body transceiver to be worn by police agents, or the like, incorporating independent receiver and transmitter means with appropriate interconnection for jointly transmitting or receiving and incorporating means for inconspicuous switching activation, as well as confidential receiving, including special switching activated by the movement of an arm.

United States Patent 1191 Holcomb et al.

[ Feb. 25, 1975 I SHOULDER HOLSTER COMMUNICATION DEVICE [75] Inventors: Jack N. Holcomb; Hans D. Sylten,

both of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Jack Holcomb, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

[22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,556

[52] US. Cl 325/16, 325/21, 325/111, 179/157, 340/277 [51] Int. Cl. H04b l/38 [58] Field of Search 325/16, 21, 64, 66, 111, 325/312', 179/1 SW, 156 R, 156 A, 157; 340/277, 279

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,810,549 5/1931 Allen 179/156 R 2,106,658 1/1938 Rakos 179/157 X 2,285,083 6/1942 Cover .l 325/16 2,541,042 2/1951 Curtis 325/16 3,114,105 12/1968 Neumiller.... 325/16 3,370,236 2/1968 Walker 325/16 3,440,635 4/1969 Hull 325/111 X 3,586,977 6/1971 Lusting et al. 179/156 R X 3,692,958 9/1972 Dymoke 179/156 A Primary Examiner-Robert L. Griffin Assistant Examiner-Aristotelis M. Psitos [57] ABSTRACT This invention is a special shoulder holster body transceiver to be .worn by police agents, or the like, incorporating independent receiver and transmitter means with appropriate interconnection for jointly transmitting or receiving and incorporating means for inconspicuous switching activation, as well as confidential receiving, including special switching activated by the movement of an arm.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZSMS RECEIVER /26 TRANSM/TTE/Q SHOULDER IIOLSTER COMMUNICATION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the general field of radio transmitting and receiving apparatus for use by police or other undercover agents, or the like. It is in the specific field of a body transmitter and receiver carried by a shoulder holster harness.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the police, and similar undercover work activities, there have been many developments in the field of radio transmitters, receivers and transceiver units. These are generally well-known to those skilled in the art. Such units in general incorporate items such as walkie-talkies, and the like.

Such units have a common limitation in size and in the combined mechanical arrangement.

There have been some attempts to provide confidential radio transmission by use of a single shoulder holster. This is effective, but leaves the problem of receiving by the same agent in an uncertain state.

Our new double shoulder holster arrangement with a receiver and transmitter appropriately interconnected and independent from one another represents the first known step in this direction and thus there is no prior art to this exact invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Governmental and police personnel, and the like, have a great requirement for confidential and secret transmission from the immediate vicinity of such individuals as well as the requirement for receipt by such individuals of varying types of information, including that picked up and transmitted by radio from other persons in the vicinity.

The bulk of this work has been accomplished by the use of walkie-talkie units, which are well-known to those skilled in the art. Such units have a common deficiency in the size required for a proper unit, including power supply, and in the difficulty of secret actuation of the transmitting and/or receiving functions.

Particularly in the area of transmitting, many deviations from walkie-talkies have been utilized because of the bulk of such units and other disadvantages. Such deviations have included the wide use of miniature transmitters, either affixed to the body, or otherwise concealed in such manner that those in the vicinity of the agent, or other person, are not normally aware of their presence. These units are frequently continuously operating. This results in a waste of power and sometimes the inability to transmit when required. Such units frequently have been supplied with switches, but the problem of conspicuousness has also been difficult in this regard, since an agent or the like may wish to commence transmission at an unexpected time when a conversation he desires to transmit is taking place.

We have studied this problem and have provided a unique solution in the form of a shoulder holster which is easy to use, is inconspecuous and comfortable and provides the necessary wiring attachments for both the receiver and transmitter. Likewise, we have provided a unique switching arrangement in connection therewith for actuation completely invisibly by use of an arm.

transmitter and receiver combination for secret use carried upon the person of the user;

Another object of this invention is to provide body worn transmitter and receiver units which are interconnected for cut off of the receiving unit during transmission by the transmitter; I

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the nature mentioned in which the receiver may be activated as desired and in which the communication may be heard confidentially;

A further object of this invention is to provide a device as mentioned in which the transmitter may be activated by an unnoticeable arm motion.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will be understood by those skilled in the art upon reading the Description of a Preferred Embodiment which follows together with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective'of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an individual wearing the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the same person indicated in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the general wiring diagram utilizing block units.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT It will be observed that there is a right side holster arrangement 30 and a left side holster arrangement 20 joined by supporting and connecting straps l0 and 40 respectively.

The right side arrangement 30 carries a receiver 32 in a pouch indicated with a confidential speaker high on the shoulder as indicated at 34. An appropriate aerial arrangement 33 is provided through the straps to assure proper reception.

The left side arrangement includes a microphone arrangement 24 high on the left shoulder, which arrangement is so connected to the transmitter 22, carried in a lower pouch, so as to provide for proper pick up of voices in the normal condition.

An appropriate aerial wire (not shown) is also provided for appropriate transmission and such wire is similarly located to that shown in conjunction with the receiver.

Appropriate wires 42 connect the units.

Within the pouch 32 is located the receiver 36, and within the pouch 22 is located the transmitter 26.

The various wiring elements 27, 37, 33 and others not shown will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

In the illustrations shown, the person wearing the device is also shown to have handcuffs and weapon 80, since such individual will normally be an officer of the law.

The schematic diagram shown in FIG. 4 illustrates the interconnection of the switching arrangement so that when the receiver is being utilized the transmitter is disconnected, so that there will not be an interference back through the receiver from this same transmitter which would be a telltale indication to anyone else in the vicinity. Thus it is seen that for transmission of information the arm switch as indicated 43 will be activated and there is no danger of receipt of inform ation back. The switch may be located upon the harness immediately above the transmitter 26.

in the schematic diagram, the receiver is indicated by the block drawing, generally 36, having a battery 39, and the transmitter, generally 26 has its battery 29. It will be noted that the wiring between the receiver positive and negative connections is interrupted when the switch arm 72 is moved to interconnect 76 and 71 rather than 71 and 73. In this case, there is no circuit completed to the receiver, thus the receiver is inactive. When it is in this condition, of course, the switch arm 75 has closed the circuit between 74 and 77 causing a transmission circuit to be completed.

By utilizing this switch 70, which is a double pull double throw switch, it is clear that complete safety is insured since the receiver will always be inactive when the transmitter is operating.

The interconnection of these two units now firmly attached to one another with no danger in a double shoulder harness arrangement is a completely unique arrangement. While it is recognized that there has been some work done in connection with individual shoulder harness arrangements for a transmitter and individual shoulder harness arrangement for a receiver, it is not safe to use the same, since any failure to proper connect the two, so that one is inoperative while the other is operative, could result in complete disaster to the operator using the unit.

We are able to provide complete safety for the operator in this respect by the joint arrangements set forth.

While the embodiment of this invention shown and described is fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages desired, it is to be understood that such embodiment has been shown for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation.

We claim:

1. A personal communication device for providing concealed radio communications between the user and another party, comprising:

a side pouch arrangement including a downwardly depending looped strap resting upon one of the users shoulders and through which the users arm passes, and a pouch at the lower end of the looped strap which contains a radio transmitter, the looped strap being of such a length that the transmitter pouch will be positioned at the users side approximately at elbow level,

a second side pouch arrangement including a downwardly depending looped strap resting upon the users other shoulder and through which the users other arm passes, and a pouch at the lower end of the looped strap which contains a radio receiver, the looped strap being of such a length that the receiver pouch will be positioned at the users side approximately at elbow level,

a strap extending horizontally across the upper back of the user and connecting at each end the top portion of each of the looped straps to hold the looped straps on the users shoulders,

a second strap extending horizontally across the lower back of the user and connecting at each end the looped straps adjacent the pouches to assist in holding the pouches in position,

a speaker on the front portion of one of the looped straps positioned approximately adjacent the shoulder and electrically connected to the receiver,

a microphone on the front portion of the other looped strap positioned approximately adjacent the shoulder and electrically connected to the transmitter,

transmitting and receiving aerials connected to their respective units and supported along their length by said looped straps, and

electrical means interconnecting the transmitter and receiver including a switch adjacent one of the pouches at'normal elbow level which is activated by pressure of the users arm for controlling operation of the radio units so that one of said transmitting and receiving units is operative while the other is inoperative.

2. A personal communication device as defined by claim 1, wherein the switch is a double pole, double throw switch. 

1. A personal communication device for providing concealed radio communications between the user and another party, comprising: a side pouch arrangement including a downwardly depending looped strap resting upon one of the user''s shoulders and through which the user''s arm passes, and a pouch at the lower end of the looped strap which contains a radio transmitter, the looped strap being of such a length that the transmitter pouch will be positioned at the user''s side approximately at elbow level, a second side pouch arrangement including a downwardly depending looped strap resting upon the user''s other shoulder and through which the user''s other arm passes, and a pouch at the lower end of the looped strap which contains a radio receiver, the looped strap being of such a length that the receiver pouch will be positioned at the user''s side approximately at elbow level, a strap extending horizontally across the upper back of the user and connecting at each end the top portion of each of the looped straps to hold the looped straps on the user''s shoulders, a second strap extending horizontally across the lower back of the user and connecting at each end the looped straps adjacent the pouches to assist in holding the pouches in position, a speaker on the front portion of one of the looped straps positioned approximately adjacent the shoulder and electrically connected to the receiver, a microphone on the front portion of the other looped strap positioned approximately adjacent the shoulder and electrically connected to the transmitter, transmitting and receiving aerials connected to their respective units and supported along their length by said looped straps, and electrical means interconnecting the transmitter and receiver including a switch adjacent one of the pouches at normal elbow level which is activated by pressure of the user''s arm for controlling operation of the radio units so that one of said transmitting and receiving units is operative while the other is inoperative.
 2. A personal communication device as defined by claim 1, wherein the switch is a double pole, double throw switch. 